Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May,12

A free food packet containing dal, sabzi, roti, rice and curd is being delivered at the homes of those under home isolation during the Covid-induced pandemic by the Manav Sehyog Society.

Since last Friday, volunteers of the society have been running to and fro across the city delivering food packets to those under home isolation. The society also provides an ambulance service from 8 am to 8 pm. Started last Friday, the society has catered to 40 families so far and the number of beneficiaries is increasing.

Vinesh Jain, general secretary of the society, said, “We get many calls every day. A home-cooked meal is a great service to those persons or families whose two or three members are Covid positive. With homemakers also contracting the virus, it becomes very difficult for the family to prepare food at home with so many members under home isolation.

“Hence our job is to ensure that everybody gets food amid the pandemic. We have a tie-up with a restaurant and a hospital which have been preparing food free of cost for the residents who are under home isolation. Till now, 40 families have placed orders of lunches and dinners with us. The food is being delivered to areas as far as Adarsh Nagar to Focal Point.”

The society’s ambulance service has also provided assistance to eight patients so far. The food service is being made available to people after seeing their Covid positive tests first so that only genuine beneficiaries avail the service. The society has provided service to areas like Ashok Nagar, Focal Point, Harbans Nagar, Ladowali Road, Krishan Nagar, Mohalla Gobindgarh, Mandi Fenton Ganj, Kot Kishan Chand, Central Town and others.

The society’s staff members and volunteers also undertake tasks to serve Covid-19 patients with ration kits or other groceries if need be. At many homes where Covid positive patients have other dependents, bananas or other fruits are also being provided in addition to food so that no one stays hungry.

The society can be contacted for lunch up to 10 am and for dinner up to 3 am. For Covid patients, the ambulance service offers free pick up and drop services to hospitals from 8 am to 8 pm.

Registered in 1973, the society is a charitable society which has been working in the fields of health and education. It is running three charitable dispensaries in Jalandhar and one mobile dispensary which renders health care services in surrounding villages. Besides, the society is also running a Shaksatrta educational programme and skill development programmes for poor children and women.